"UK President Todd understands that the University has a responsibility to use its expertise and resources beyond the borders of the UK campus, and this innovative effort is proof of his excellent vision for improving the lives of all Kentuckians."

-- Mitch McConnell,
U.S. Senator (R-Ky.)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 25, 2004) -- U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today announced he has secured $5 million in federal funds for research on environmental assessment and cleanup at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

The research will be performed by the Kentucky Research Consortium for Energy and Research, a collaborative research program of the University of Kentucky, Murray State University, and the University of Louisville. The consortium is directed by Lindell Ormsbee, professor of civil engineering at UK College of Engineering.

"I'm proud to deliver $5 million for this important project, and I commend the University of Kentucky in particular for its leadership in addressing technical environmental issues at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant,” said Sen. McConnell. "UK President Todd understands that the University has a responsibility to use its expertise and resources beyond the borders of the UK campus, and this innovative effort is proof of his excellent vision for improving the lives of all Kentuckians."

The need for the research grows from findings in 1988 that a radioactive substance, Tc99, had entered groundwater wells northwest of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Cleanup efforts have been under way since then, and the plant has been listed on the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund national priorities list since 1994.

UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. noted that Sen. McConnell has secured more than $500 million for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant cleanup over the last four years.

“Time and time again, Senator Mitch McConnell has stepped forward to aggressively make the case that the quality of life in Western Kentucky deserves the support of federal agencies. This Research Consortium would not exist were it not for Senator McConnell’s energy and determination to obtain the funding we need. He has made sure funding for specific projects are in the federal budget, and he has been a tireless advocate on our behalf at a variety of federal agencies ,” said Todd.